Semaphore-signal for vehicles.



S. D. HOPE, SR.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, I918.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I ATTORNEY S. D. HOPE; SR-

SEIVIAPHORE SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. I918- Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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I NVENTOR ATTORNEY STATES rnrnnr ora on.

SEMAIPHORE-SIGNAL F013 VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed may 21, 191% Serial No. 235,859.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. Horn, Sn, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Martins Ferry, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semaphore-Signals for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to semaphore signals for automobiles, and it has for its object to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive signaling device adapted for attachment to an automobile-or like vehicle and designed to be operated to indicate to trailic oiiicers and to the drivers of other vehicles the intended direction of travel.

A further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned embodying movable semaphore arms which may be conveniently swung to and from signaling positions for indicating the intended path of travel and which, to facilitate signaling in night driving, have associated therewith electric lamps which are automatically lighted when the arms are moved to signaling positions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be specifically described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention applied to an automobile, the signal arm at one side being shown in normal position and that at the opposite side being shown in signaling position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the mounting board with the op erating levers and the circuit closing switches located thereon;

Fig. 3 is a lower edge view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modification;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55, Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric wiring employed; and.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the semaphore or signal arm.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views- 1 indicates a base-board, which may be the usual instrument board, located on the dash cowl, or beneath the windshield, of an automobile. Rigidly mounted upon the face of said board in a suitable position, as midway between the sides of the car is a metal barlike base 2 having a centrally disposed overhanging lip or pivot-mounting 3. Mounted upon pivot-pins 4 which have their opposite ends held by said bar 2 and the overhanging lip 3 are two operating levers 5 of hell- .crank form which are arranged in reverse positions. Pivotally connected to the short arm ofeach lever 5 is a pitman-like rod 6 which extends laterally in an approximately horizontal direction and has its outer end pivoted to a suitably formed signal arm 7 which is mounted for semaphore-like swinging movement, the pivotal connection of said bar 2. as shown at the right in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Said longer arm is preferably bowed slightly intermediate its ends and is slightly resilient so that it must be sprung forward slightly from said bar 2 in moving from and to its normal position in which the head of? a screw 9 seats in a retaining depression or socket 10 provided therefor in said bar 2. Said screw 9 serves to secure-in place on said operating lever aknob 11 whereby said lever is rasped by hand to effect shifting thereof.

Mounted upon the base-board 1 at a suitable point between the positions assumed by the longer arms 5 when the latter occupy signaling positions, and insulated from said base-board as shown at 13, is a metal contact-piece 12 to which electric current is conducted in a suitable manner, as through a binding post 14 which is connected by a wire 15 to one side of a current source or battery 16. Also mounted upon said base-board at opposite sides of said contact-piece and having their free end normally disposed in overhanging relation to the latter are two spring-metal contacts 17 of bowed form. A binding post 18 is associated with each of said contacts 17, the same being respectively connected by a wire 19 with an electric lamp 20 carried by the adjacent semaphore arm 7 in a suitable position, as in an aperture 21 provided in said arm. A wire 22 passes directly from one lamp 20 to the other and has connected thereto a conductor wire 23 leading from the opposite side of the current source 16. D

As is obvious, the circuit to both lamps 1s normally open. When, however, one of the levers 5 is swung to actuate the semaphore signal with which it is connect-ed to swing outward to horizontal signaling posltlon, the longer arm 5 of said lever rides over the top of the adjacent contact 17 and depresses the end of the latter into engagement with the fixed contact 12, thereby closing the electric circuit to and lighting the lamp 20 of the actuated semaphore arm. A strip of insulation 24 is carried on the under side of ea'ch lever arm 5 for engagement with the contacts 17, as shown.

In some cases it may be advisable or preferable to have the pitman-like rods located in front of, rather than behind, the wind-shield. In such case the modification hown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be employed. In said modification a spindle 4 is substituted for the ivot pins 4, the same being directed through the base-board 1 and adjacent part of the dash and carrying a short arm 5' upon its front end. Said spindle carries in fixed position upon its opposite end a lever arm 5 corresponding substantially to the arm 5 of the preferred form of device hereinbefore described.

It will be apparent that the invention is readily susceptible to various changes in the form and arrangement of some of its parts without departing-from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is In a direction signal for vehicles, signal arms pivotally upported at opposite sldes of the vehicle, laterally swinging levers associated with said arms whereby the latter may be individually swung to and from extended signaling positlon, an electric lamp carried by each of said arms, an electric battery, a single fixed contact-plate permanently connected to one pole of said battery, a pair of oppositely disposed spring contacts of bowed' form separately connected throughthe opposite lamps with the opposite pole of said battery, each of said contacts having one end free and in overlying relation to said contact-plate and adapted to have the adjacent arm-control lever ride forward over the bowed portion thereof to depress said free end into contact with said plate for closing the electric circuit through the lamp of the extended arm. In testimony whereof, I affixmy signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL D HOPE, SR.

Witnesses:

H. E. DUNLAP, W. F. Kmrnn. 

